ORANJESTAD (AAN) – From June 8–12, 2026, members of the working group No Mas No More (NMNM) gathered in Sint Maarten and Sint Eustatius for their annual workshop conference.
The conference brought together representatives from Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, Sint Maarten, and the Dutch Ministries of Health, Welfare & Sport (VWS), Education, Culture & Science (OCW), and Justice & Security (JenV). Its purpose was to strengthen cooperation in combating domestic violence and child abuse.
Participants worked on topics including the future ratification and implementation of the Istanbul Treaty, temporary protection orders, inter-island cooperation for victim support, and early detection of gender-based risk factors. Agreements were also made to establish a common system for collecting data across all islands more effectively.
Attendees visited local organizations, such as the Shelter for Women, Victim Support Services, and the Guardianship Council, to learn about local initiatives. A special exchange took place with the Multidisciplinary Consultation Group (MDO) in Sint Eustatius, providing insights into how local organizations collaborate and coordinate cases.
According to Carmen Grefte (President of NMNM) and Ereina Hunt-Gorden (Sint Eustatius representative), the conference highlighted the importance of professional unity to create a cohesive approach across the Kingdom against domestic violence and child abuse.
No Mas No More is a Kingdom-wide working group promoting cooperation among the six Caribbean islands and the Netherlands to prevent and address domestic violence and child abuse.
